Underground conduit for electric wires



(No Model.)

O. H. GOEBEL.

UNDERGROUND GONDUIT FOR ELECTRIC WIRES.

No. 297,926. Patented Apr. 29, 1884.

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UNITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN H. GOEBEL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOEBEL SECTIONAL ELECTRIC UNDERGROUND AND PNEUMATIC DE- LIVERY COMPANY, OF NEW JERSEY.

UNDERGROUND CONDUIT FOR ELECTRIC WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,926, dated April 29,1884.

Application filed September 21, 1883. (No model.)

1T0 all whom 12; may concern..-

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN H. GOEBEL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Penn:

5 sylvania, have invented a new and useful ID1- provement in Underground Conduits for Electric WVires, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- L Figure 1 is an end view, partly sectional, of

a conduit for electric wires, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the interior thereof; Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the conduit, vault, &c.

I 5 Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.-

My invention consists of a conduit adapted to sustain telegraph, telephone, electric light, and other wires, the same being formed of a tube having ledges for the wires and tracks for the reel, said tracks having serrated edges, which are engaged by pawls or dogs on the reel for preventing rearward motion of the reel.

It also consists of a wire-holding reel having means for locking the same in the conduit and preventing unwinding of the wire.

It also consists of means for operating the reel.

It also consists of other details of construction, as will be hereinafter set forth,

Referring to the drawings, A represents a tube formed of metal, stone, or other suitable material located in a trench, and communi- 3 5 eating with a testing station or Vault, B. On opposite sides of the inner face of the tube are ledges 0, arranged horizontally and parallel, and above the same are tracks D. D, on which is supported the reel E, the inner edges 40 of the said tracks being serrated. The reel consists of aframe, E, on which is mounted the drum or reel F proper, the wire for the con-- whose points engage with the serrated tracks D D, said dogs being pressed against the tracks by the action of a spring, L, and the pawlH, being held in engaging contact with the ratchet-heads G by means of a spring, M, bothsprings being suitably connected with the frame E.

Attached to the rear of the frame E is a de-.

.pending arm, N, having openings or eyes,

through either of which maybe passed the wire from the reel, and the cross-bars E of the frame E are slotted at their ends to reeeive the tracks, whereby the rail is sustained and guided.

Depending from the top of the conduit A is a way, P, within which is fitted a chain or conveyer, Q, the lowerend of the way being slotted for the passage of an eye, R, which is secured to the conveyer Q, and adapted to'be attached to the forward end of the sliding rod. The conveyer Q, which is the motor for the reel, is fitted into the way 1? at a testing the arm isadj ustably and movably connected with the frame E. When motion of the conveyer ceases, the pawl, under the action of the spring M, engages with its ratchet-head, thus stopping the unreeling of the wire, and the dogs interlock with the teeth of the rails,

whereby rearward motion of the reel is prethe conveyer Q is sufficiently flexible to be inserted into theway from the top of the testing station or vault,.it possesses the proper rigidity to be pushed or advanced from said top. The ledges G are adapted to support electric-light and tube-inclosed wires, which may be introduced into and forced through the conduit through the top of the station or vault, as shown by the dotted lines, Fig. 3,

and the inner ends of the ledges are flanged for preventing displacement of the wires and keeping the latter separated one from another.

I11 the side of the conduit is an opening, a, which is covered by a cap, S, consisting of a head, I), and a slotted shank, c, the latter entering said opening and receiving a wedgingkey, T, which tightens against the inner face of the conduit, thus securely holding the cap in position with a tight joint. When it is desired to make lateral connections with the wires, the key T is loosened and the cap removed, thus uncovering the opening a, it being evident that the conduit may be formed with numerous openings,'and provided with a corresponding number of caps. By the employment of the slotted shank and key Iavoid a screw-plug and a threaded opening, and as said key is on the inside of the conduit it is guarded from injurious action of the ground, and may be readily loosened from within; and should the shank or head rust in position, it may be readily driven out by blows on the inner end. The head I) also overlaps the wall of the opening, thus tightening against the face of the tube, apd providing a tight joint for preventing the entrance of water, 820., into the tube. When the wire is exhausted, the drum or reel is easily removed, resupplied, and restored, or a fresh reel employed and applied, the bearings of the shaft of the drum or reel readily permitting such operations.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A conduit formed of a tube with ledges and reel-supporting tracks having serrated edges, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A conduit formed of a tube having reelsupporting tracks, with serrated edges, and a motor-receiving way, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A conduit formed of a tube having an opening, in combination with a closing-cap consisting of a head, I), and a slotted shank, c, and the key T, the latter being on the inner face of the conduit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A conduit formed of a tube having serrated tracks on which a wire-holding reel is supported and moved, said reel having means for interlocking with said tracks, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A wire-holding reel for a conduit provided with a pawl, and having a drum formed with serrated heads, said pawl being disengaged from the heads by the advance of the reel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A wire-holding reel for a conduit, having a drum with a serrated head, a pawl mounted on the frame engaging with said head, and a sliding rod connected with said pawl operated by the motor of the reel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. Awire-holding reel for a conduit having a pawl and check-pawl, and a drum provided with ratchet -heads the teeth whereof are pitched in reverse order, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. A wire-holding reel for a conduit, provided with means for locking its drum and frame, said means being released by the power applied to advance the reel, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. Awire-holding reel fora conduit havinga rear guiding-arm adjustably connected with the frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. A wire-holding reel provided with a drum or reel proper with serrated heads and a frame with supporting cross-bars, a lockingpawl, locking-dogs, a sliding rod, and a checkpawl, in combination with a conduit and a motor, said conduit having serrated tracks on which the reel is supported and moved, and a way for the passage of the motor, substan- 9 tially as and for the purpose set 'forth.

0. H. GOEBEL. \Vitnesses:

J OHN A. WIEDERsHEIu, A. P. GRANT. 

